FOR IMEDIATE RELEASE
Brooklyn, NY – April 2, 2010 – The 2010 Census “Portrait of America” Road Tour, and Liberty, the New York region’s custom road tour vehicle, stopped at Banco Popular’s Sunset Park Branch today.
As of today, Brooklyn has a 36% response rate as compared to the national participation rate of 56%.
Today’s event, during which Census staff distributed educational and promotional materials, encouraged residents to fill out their census forms to increase the response rate.
Each year, over $400 billion in federal funds are distributed to states and communities based on the results of the census. Federal support for schools, hospitals, community centers, transit systems, art and cultural programs, and many other services are determined by the count.
From March 19 - April 19, 2010, Banco Popular is part of the 2010 Census Be Counted / Questionnaire Assistance Center Program, by offering to host “Be Counted” sites at all of its 39 local branches. “Be Counted” sites are places where residents who did not receive a 2010 Census form by mail, or if they believe they were excluded from their household’s census form, can pick up an extra form. For more information, on the Census, call 1.866.432.9832 or visit www.hispanicfederation.org or http://www.2010census.gov .
SEE ATTACHMENT:
Photo 1 – Census Partners Come Together With Sunset Park Community to Deliver the 2010 Census “Easy, Safe, Important” Message
[Left to right: Community resident; James Tillman, Partnership Team Leader, Census Bureau; Rafael Dominguez, Partnership Coordinator, Census Bureau; Brian Doran, NY Metro Region Executive, Banco Popular; Dawn Carrillo, VP, NY Metro Marketing Manager, Banco Popular; Damaris Santiago, Branch Manager, Banco Popular; Maria Matos, Partnership Specialist, U.S. Census Bureau; Patricia Velazquez, Senior Vice-President, Banco Popular and additional community members]
About the 2010 Census
The 2010 Census is a count of everyone living in the United States and is mandated by the U.S. Constitution to be conducted every 10 years. Census data are used to apportion congressional seats to states; to distribute more than $400 billion in federal funds to local, state, and tribal governments each year; and to make decisions about what community services to provide. The 2010 Census form will be one of the shortest in U.S. history and consists of just 10 questions, taking about 10 minutes to complete. Strict confidentiality laws protect the respondents and the information they provide.
About the New York Regional 2010 Census Road Tour
Liberty, the New York regional road tour vehicle, will travel to each of the 19 counties of the New York Regional Census Center’s jurisdiction (NY counties – Bronx, Kings, New York, Queens, Richmond, Westchester, Nassau, Suffolk, Rockland; NJ counties – Bergen, Essex, Hudson, Middlesex, Morris, Passaic, Somerset, Sussex, Union, Warren). The NY Region’s 2010 Census road tour is focusing on demographically diverse neighborhoods that historically have returned the lowest percentage of census forms and have therefore presented the greatest challenge to achieving a full and accurate count.
About Banco Popular
As a premier community bank, Banco Popular North America (BPNA) provides sound lending and financial opportunities to a diverse group of consumer and business customers across the United States.
First established in the United States in 1961, Banco Popular North America has for the past 48 years continued to grow its core banking services and today operates a branch network across five states: New York, New Jersey, Illinois, California and Florida. BPNA also markets online deposit accounts through its subsidiary E-LOAN, which also offers loan customers the option of being referred to a trusted consumer lending partner.
Banco Popular North America is part of Popular, Inc., a Nasdaq-listed [BPOP], full-service financial services provider with operations in Puerto Rico, the United States, the Caribbean, and Latin America.
For more information about Banco Popular North America, visit the company’s Web site at www.bancopopular.com.
